Windshield cleaner



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L. BLACKMORE WI NDSHIELD CLEANER Filed Jan. 12 1925 2 Sheetsheet l L. BLACKMORE WI NDSHIELD CLEANER Filed Jan. 12, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ammo@ Patented Der.. d, i925.

bauten stares LLOYD BLACKIVIORE, OF HIGHLAND PARK, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAI/VARIE VV'INDSI'IIELD CLEANER.

therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention riilates to windshield cleany ers, and is illustrated as embodied in cleaners for :uitomobile windshields of the type which is automatically operated by fluid power means through being connected to the intatte manifold.

Windshield cleaners usually comprise a' wiper including` a strip of rubber or other suitable material, which rests against the windshield glass when the cleaner is not being used so that it soon becomes permanently deflected in one direction or the other. An object of the present invention is thc` avoidance of such permanent deflection or distortion of the material of the wiper.v by separating the wiper from the glass when not in use so that thematerial may resume its original position. Preferably1 the wiper is locked out of engagement with the glass at one end of its stroke, above the driver`s normal line of vision. I

In the several illustrated embodiments of the. invention, the wiper is carried by a power oscillated rock member7 which is axially movable to separate the wiper from the glass, and which can be locked at one end of its stroke with the wiper so separated from the glass. In a form which is well adapted for manufacture in large quantities, a pair of co-axial roel; members carrying cooperating clutch elements are connected respectively to the wiper and to a duid voperated piston, and means is provided for axially moving the rock member carrying the wiper, against the resistance of a spring which urges the wiper against the glass,

and locking it with the wiper out of engage- Application filed January 12, 1923. Serial No. 612,207.

ment with the glass and preferably out of the driver-s normal line ofl vision.

Especially well adapted for use with the the above described construction, although not necessarily so limited, is a construct-ion in which the power is cut off by axial movement of the wiper carrying rock member, as 1for example by closing a fluid cont-rolling va Ve.

vrtnother feature of -t-he invention relates to an improved auxiliary clutch element for locking the wiper out of the drivers normal range of Vision, whether or not the power is at the same time cut off, and whether or not the wiper is also locked out of engagement with the glass. n

Other features of the invention, including provision for adjusting the tension of the spring holding the wiper against the glass, and other novel combinations and desirable specific constructions, will be apparent from the following description of several illustrative embodiments of the invention shown inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a cleaner mounted on a. windshield;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof, partly broken away;

- Fig. 3 is a perspective View, broken away, of part of the wiper locking means;

Fig. 4L is a section on the line 4 4: of Fig. 1, showing the fluid controlling valve;

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to part of Fig. l, showing a modified construction;

Fig. 6 is ya View, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, of a further modified f construction;

Fig. 7 is a similar view, partly in side ele vation and partly i'n vertical section, of a third modified construction;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of part of the wiper locking means of the modification shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is a side elevation of part of the wiper locking means of the modification shown in Fig. 6.

In each ofthe several modifications, a wiper 10 is arranged to be operated by a duid piston 12 arranged in a chamber in a casing 14, opposite ende of the chamber al ternately being connected to the intake mani- 'fold or other source of power through a flexible coupling attached to a conduit 16. The end of the chamber in casing 14 which -is not connected to the manifold is open to the atmosphere, so that the pressure of the atmosphere operates piston 12 on account of the partial vacuum in the intake inanifold.

Piston 12 is connected to a rock member such as a sleeve 18 (Fig. l) or 20 (Fig. 5), ora shaft 22, (Fig. 6), or 24 (Fig. 7), each carrying a two-arm pawl 26, the opposite arms of which alternately engage a projeof tion 28 on a U-shaped lever 30 mounted on a fulcrum pin 32 carried by a cross-bar 34 secured to casing 14. Lever SOis connect-ed by a coil .spring 36 with a three-arm lever mounted on pin 82 and a pin 38 carried by lever 80, the threearm lever having a U- shaped arm 40 to which the spring is attached and which has lugs 42 forming with the U-shaped arm a cage for spring 36. The three arm lever also has a pair of oppositely extending L-shaped arms 44, of which the cross portions hook into notches in stems 46 of valves at opposite ends of casing 14. Each `of these valves in its upper position, connects its end of the chamber in casing 14 with thc atmosphere, and in its lower position connects it with conduit 16.

In the operation of the above described parts, which except as noted are the saine iii the various modifications, the swinging of piston 12 back and forth operates through pawl 26 tc oscillate lever 30. During the first part of the oscillation of lever 30 and until it passes the position of alinement with U-shaped part 40 of the three arm lever, spring 36 is stretched somewhat, but holds the three arm lever in its initial position without changing the valves4 As lever 30 passes the position of alinement with the U-shaped part 40 of the three arm lever, toward the end of its stroke. spring 36 suddeiilv swings the three arm lever to its op-v posite extreme position, reversing the valves and causing the piston 12 to be swung in the opposite direction for its next stroke.

The cleaner is supported by attaching easing 14 to the frame 48 of a windshield glass 50. bv means of tap screws 52 (Fig. 2)

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-4. the wiper 10 is secured by an arm 54 held by a set screw 56 to a shaft 58 which is axially movable in a bearing formed bv sleeve 18. A handle 60 is mounted on the opposite end ot the shaft, to permit the driver to manipulate it manually, and a spring 62 engaging at one end a washer 64 held by the handle, and one end of sleeve 18 at the other end, urges shaft,l 58 axially-- through sleeve 18 to. press wiper 10 against glass 50. This spring also serves to clutch the sleeve and shaft together, to cause the wiper to be operated by piston 12, there being a pair of clutch elements of the projection and notch type formed by mounting a pin 66 in the shaft and cutting a notch to receive it in the end of the sleeve. The end of this pin travels in a groove 68 formed in a boss 70 shown as integral with casing 14.

'When the driver wishes to lock the wiper at one end of its stroke and out of engagement with the glass, as explained above, he grasps handle 60, (turns shaft 58 to a central position where the wiper is vertical), and pushes the shaft axially forward against the resistance of spring 62, suoli movement being permitted by reason of pin 66 being in regis- 4 try with a wide notch or opening 72 through the flange of boss 70 which forms the front wall of groove 68. He then turns the shaft i to its right or left limit of movement, where it is held with the wiperA out of engagement with' the glass by an auxiliary clutch clement formed by cutting pin-receiving notches 74 and 76 in the front face of boss 70.

According to another feature of the invention, axial movement of shaft 58 is utilized-to open and close a fluid controlling valve which cuts off the power when the wiper is in idle position and turns it on when the wiper is in operative position. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, this valve is formed by cutting openings 78 in opposite sides of sleeve 18 in alinement with conduit 16, and by cutting an annular groove 80'in shaft 58 which is iii alinemcnt withopenings 78 and conduit 16 when the wiper is in operative position. Then the wiper is in idle position, shaft 68 is pushed forward, groove 8O docs not aline with openings 78, and the valve is closed. Openings 7 8 are long enough so that oscillation of sleeve 18 does not block the valve.

The modification shown in Fig. 5 differs from that of Figs. 1-4 in that shaft 90, corresponding to shaft 58, is shouldered to engage a thimble 92 threaded on sleeve 2l). By adiusting thimble 92 by turning it with respect to sleeve 20, the tension of spring 62. and conseouently the pressure of the wiper on the glass. may be varied as desired.

In Figs. 6 and 9 is shown a modification in which the wiper is carried bv a sleeve lOOvvhicl' is axially movable on the reduced front end o1 shaft 22, the sleeve being formed u ith a projection and the shouldered part of the shaft with a notch to constitutry the elements of a clutch as above explained. A pushrod 102 connects this sleevel with a. locking member 104 having a handle 106 and a bayonet slot 108 embracing a pin 110 carried by a boss 112 of casing 14. A spring 114 engaging lockingineniber 104 and boss 112 serves to urge the wiper against the (lli lili

glass, and to clutch sleeve 100 to slia't't 22, unless restrained hy pin 110 being in slot 108 as shown in Fig. 9.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the wiper is carried by a sleeve 120 normally clutched to shaft 21 by having in its end a notch embracing a. pin 122 carried by the shat't. The sleeve may be manipulated by a handle or pushrod 124- connected thereto, against the resistance of. a spring 126 corresponding to springs G2 and 114. The wiper is lockedin idle position by a pin 128 carried by sleeve 120, which in a central position passes through a notch 13() in a plate 132 held in the end ot a hollow boss v,131, and which in either extreme position registers with one of two depressions 13G, the backs of which are shown in Fig. 8.

lVhile several modifications of my invention have been illustrated and described, it is not my intention to limit its scope thereby, or otherwise 4than by, the terms of Athe appcnded claims. The term wiper is used throughout the specification andclaims in a generic sense, and not by way of.` limitation to any particular type of cleaning o drying .implement or the equivalent.

l claim:

l. A.. windshield cleaner comprising, in combination, a wiper for cleaning a windshield glass, a fluid pressure operated piston connected to said wiper for moving the Wiper back and forth, a ralre controlling the operation ot' said piston, a single devicefor moving the wiper away from the glass and to one endet its stroke and ttor closing the valve, and means for releasably holding the wiper in the position to vwhich it is moved by said device.

2. A windshield cleaner comprising, in combination, a wiper for a windshield glass. an axially movable rock member carrying the wiper, fluid pressure operated piston means for rocking the member to operate the wiper, a projection and notch clutch connection between the rock member and said means, a piston controlling` 'valvel arranged to he operated hy axial movement ot' the rock member, a spring acting axially of the rock member in a direction to urge the wiper against the glass and to hold the ralrc open. and an auxiliary part of a piojef'tiou and notch clutch connection to hold said member against the resistance of the spring with the wiper out of engagement with the glass at one end ot its stroke and with the i'alre closed.

Il. A windshield cleaner comprising, in combination. a wiper tor a windshield glass, an axially; movable roel: shat't to operate the wiper. :i bearing for the shaft,vl fluid pret l -.re controlicdincans to rock the shatt back and iorthfiind fluid connections for said means controlled by a valve consisting of alined openings iu opposite sides of said bearing and an annular groove in therock-A shaft arranged to be moved into and out of registry with the openings by axial movement of the rock shaft.

met. A windshield cleaner comprisine, in combination, a wiper, a. wiper operating shaft movable axially to carry the wiper into and out ot engagement with a windshield glass, fluid pressure operated means for ope-rating tlieshat't, and a. fluid controlk ling valve arranged to be opened and closed by axial movement of the shaft.

A windshield cleaner combination, a wiper movable back and forth in engagement with a windshield glass, an axially movable rock member carrying the wiper, a fiuid pressure operated piston connected to and operating the rock member, a spring acting on the rock member to urge the wiper against the glass, and a device to hold the rock member in an axially retracted position against the resistance of the spring with the wiper at one end of its stroke.

6. A windshield cleaner comprising, in combination, a wiper, a fluid pressure operated piston, a pair of rock members connected respectively to the piston and to the wiper, clutch elements carried respectively by the rock members, a spring acting on the rock members'l to urge the clutch elements together, and means for relatively moving the rock members to separate the clutch elements against the resistance ofE the spring and for holding them with the clutch elements separated and with the wiper at one end of its stroke.

7 A windshield cleaner comprising, in combination', a wiper, a fluid pressure operated piston, a pair of rock members connected respectively to the piston and to the wiper, projection and notchclutch elements carried respectively by the rock members, a spring acting on the rock members to urge the clutch elements together, and an auxiliary clutch element to hold the rock members with the first clutch elements separated against the resistance of the spring and with the wi per at one end of its stroke.

8. A windshield cleaner comprising, in combination, a wiper, a shaft carrying the wiper and arranged to oscillate to moveit. back and forth in engagement with a windshield glass, a fluid pressure oscillated sleeve surrounding and clutched to the shaft, a spring' urging the shaft axially through the sleeve into clutch position in a manner to press the wiper against the glass, and-an auxiliary element to hold the shaft in unclutclied position against the resistance ot 'the spring with the wiper out of engagement with the glass.

9. A windshield cleaner comprising, in

comprising, in

lltlli combination, u Wiper, a fluid pressure 0perated pistou, (zO-axial rock members connected respectively to the wiper and the pston, clutch elements carried respectively by said rock members, u spring acting on the rock members to hold the Wiper against the` glass with the elements in clutching engage nient, means for moving the Wiper and its roch member xi-illy ui said member t() nu idle position with the clutch eleineus sepuured and with the wiper :muy from the glass, and an auxiliary element to hold the wiper und its roel: nieiuber in said idle positon.

In testimony whereof l alli); 1113.' signature.

LLOYD BLACKMORIQ.

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